It was a particularly chaotic Monday morning. The phone was ringing, emails were piling up, and my to-do list was growing longer by the second. In the midst of all this madness, I caught myself feeling anxious, my mind running a hundred miles an hour. Then I stopped and asked myself, “What would a monk do?”
Now, I’m no monk. Far from it. But over the years, I’ve learned that peace of mind doesn’t come from external circumstances—it comes from within. Monks, with their serene smiles and calm presence, seem to have cracked the code for staying cool, no matter the heat.
And guess what? You don’t have to live in a monastery to get that kind of calm. You just need a few simple habits that can transform the way you handle stress and anxiety. Here’s a story of how I learned these habits, and how you can, too.
Habit 1: The Art of Slowing Down
Let me take you back to a time when I was a chronic multitasker. I used to think that doing a hundred things at once made me more productive. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. In fact, it only made me more stressed and scattered.
One day, while catching up with my old friend Ravi, he gave me a piece of advice that changed everything. He said, “Why are you in such a rush? Slow down, and you’ll do everything better.”
At first, I laughed it off. I mean, who has time to slow down in today’s fast-paced world? But Ravi wasn’t just talking about moving slower physically; he was talking about a mental shift. He told me about how he started doing things mindfully—whether it was eating a meal, writing an email, or having a conversation. He gave each moment his full attention.
I decided to give it a try. I stopped rushing through everything and started focusing on one task at a time. And guess what? It worked. Slowing down didn’t make me less productive; it made me more efficient. My mind was clearer, my work was better, and I felt calmer, as if I was taking a leisurely stroll while the world rushed by.
Habit 2: Deep Breathing—Nature’s Built-in Tranquilizer
You know those moments when everything is going wrong, and your stress levels shoot through the roof? Yeah, I’ve been there too. There was a time when I would react to stressful situations by getting all worked up, my chest tightening, and my thoughts spiraling out of control.
Then I stumbled upon something so simple, it almost seemed too good to be true: deep breathing.
I remember the first time I consciously practiced it. I was on the verge of losing my cool during a particularly frustrating meeting. Instead of snapping, I paused, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. I did this a few more times, and to my surprise, the tension started melting away.
Here’s the thing—deep breathing isn’t just a trick; it’s a powerful tool. When you take slow, deep breaths, you send a message to your brain that everything’s okay, even when things feel out of control. I began incorporating this habit into my daily life. Every time I felt stress creeping in, I would take a few deep breaths, and just like that, I’d feel calmer.
If you want to stay cool under pressure, start with your breath. It’s the easiest and most effective way to reset your mind and body.
Habit 3: Practicing Gratitude Like a Monk
Let me tell you about a phase in my life when I was constantly comparing myself to others. No matter what I achieved, it never felt like enough. Someone else always seemed to be doing better, living happier, or achieving more. This toxic cycle was draining my peace of mind.
Then, a friend of mine introduced me to the practice of gratitude. At first, it sounded like one of those self-help clichés, but I decided to give it a shot. Every night, before bed, I started writing down three things I was grateful for that day—simple things like a good meal, a laugh with a friend, or even just a quiet evening at home.
Over time, something shifted. Instead of focusing on what I didn’t have, I started appreciating what I did. It’s like I rewired my brain to notice the good around me. And you know what? That constant sense of lacking and comparing disappeared. Gratitude gave me a deep sense of contentment—a calmness that no amount of external success could provide.
Monks practice gratitude because they know that happiness isn’t about having more; it’s about appreciating what you already have. If you want to feel as calm as a monk, start counting your blessings, no matter how small they may seem.
Habit 4: Disconnect to Reconnect
One afternoon, while having lunch with my sister, I found myself constantly checking my phone. Notifications were buzzing, and my mind was half in the conversation, half on social media. She gently pointed out, “You’re here, but you’re not really here.”
It hit me hard. How often do we find ourselves so connected to our devices that we disconnect from the people and moments right in front of us?
I decided to try something radical—I started setting aside time each day to disconnect from technology completely. No phone, no laptop, no distractions. I used this time to read, take a walk, or simply sit in silence. At first, it felt strange. I mean, we’re so used to being constantly “on” that doing nothing felt like a waste of time.
But slowly, I began to enjoy these moments. They became a mental reset for me. Disconnecting allowed me to reconnect with myself, and as a result, I felt calmer and more present in everything I did.
If you want to regain that inner calm, make it a habit to unplug regularly. Trust me, the world will keep spinning even if you’re offline for a while.
Habit 5: Embrace Silence
I used to be one of those people who always needed background noise—whether it was music, TV, or even a podcast. Silence made me uncomfortable. It felt like something was missing.
Then, I came across a story about how monks spend hours in silence every day. Intrigued, I decided to try it myself. One weekend, I challenged myself to spend an hour in complete silence. No distractions, just me and my thoughts.
At first, it was hard. My mind kept wandering, and I felt restless. But after a while, I began to enjoy the stillness. In that silence, I found clarity. I could hear my own thoughts without the usual mental clutter, and it gave me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Since then, I’ve made silence a regular part of my routine. Whether it’s five minutes in the morning or a quiet evening at home, I carve out time to sit in silence and just be.
There’s something deeply calming about embracing silence. It allows you to tune out the noise of the world and reconnect with your inner self. So, if you want to feel calmer, don’t be afraid of silence—embrace it.
Habit 6: Letting Go of Control
There was a time in my life when I felt the need to control everything—my work, my relationships, even the outcome of events I had no influence over. Unsurprisingly, this constant need for control led to a lot of stress and frustration.
One day, while discussing this with a mentor, he told me something that stuck: “You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.”
That simple sentence shifted my perspective. I realized that I couldn’t control everything, and trying to do so was only making me more anxious. So, I started practicing the habit of letting go. Instead of obsessing over outcomes, I focused on what I could control—my effort, my attitude, and my reactions.
Letting go doesn’t mean giving up; it means accepting that some things are out of your hands. And when you do, a weight lifts off your shoulders. You stop stressing over things you can’t change and find peace in the present moment.
Habit 7: Daily Meditation—Your Inner Calm Retreat
If there’s one habit that has transformed my life the most, it’s meditation. It’s like hitting the reset button for your mind.
I was skeptical at first. Sitting still and doing nothing didn’t sound appealing. But after reading countless success stories about how meditation can help reduce stress, I decided to give it a try.
I started small—just five minutes a day. I’d sit quietly, focus on my breathing, and let go of any thoughts that came up. At first, it was hard. My mind would wander, and I’d get frustrated. But over time, I learned to accept the wandering thoughts and gently bring my focus back to my breath.
As the days went by, I noticed a subtle shift. I felt calmer, more centered. The stress that used to bother me didn’t seem so overwhelming anymore. Meditation became my daily retreat, a place where I could recharge and find my inner calm.
Now, it’s an essential part of my routine, and I can’t recommend it enough. If you want to stay cool, no matter what life throws at you, meditation is the habit that will make all the difference.
Conclusion: Becoming as Calm as a Monk
As I finish writing this, I realize how much these habits have transformed my life. I’m not saying I’ve achieved monk-level calmness, but I’ve come a long way from the anxious, restless person I used to be. And if I can do it, so can you.
Life is full of challenges, stress, and chaos, but
how you respond to them makes all the difference. By incorporating these seven habits into your daily life, you can cultivate a sense of inner peace that will carry you through even the most difficult days.
Slow down, breathe deeply, practice gratitude, disconnect, embrace silence, let go of control, and meditate. Do these consistently, and you’ll find yourself as calm as a monk, cooler than the shade on a scorching day.
